Sunday January 30, 2022 Matt Skoczen

Theme: "Making A Dent" - DING is added to each theme entry.

23. Fraudulent budget increase for cleaning supplies?: BRILLO PADDING. Brillo pad.

33. Those waiting for Facebook friend acceptance?: PENDING PALS. Pen pals.

40. Pre-flight pandemonium?: WILD BOARDING. Wild boar.

65. Banking at a beach ATM?: FUNDING IN THE SUN. Fun in the sun.

91. Growing bulb?: BUDDING LIGHT. Bud Light.

97. Major curves on a mountain road?: EPIC WINDING. Epic win.

113. Ocean trip for relationship strengthening?: BONDING VOYAGE. Bon voyage.

I remember we had a DING deletion theme a while ago. Not a DING addition.

Great title! Our standard Sunday word, black square count. A bit heavier on names in the fill.

Across:

1. Hankered (for): ITCHED.

7. Honi's comics dad: HAGAR. "Hägar the Horrible".

12. Jungian concerns: PSYCHES.

19. Ricky Martin's surname, by birth: MORALES. Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales.

21. Mindless: INANE.

22. Stuffed meat dish: ROULADE. Is it a familiar dish to you?

25. Together: EN MASSE.

26. Walk in the park, say: AMBLE.

27. Ending with neur-: OSES.

28. Role for Ingrid: ILSA.  "Casablanca".

30. False __: STEP.

31. Lucie's dad: DESI. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem play Lucy and Ricky in "Being the Ricardos".

32. Start of a classic dramatic question: ET TU.

36. Iain's negative: NAE.

38. Concerning: IN REGARD TO. Or "with regard to".

44. Big spreads: ESTATES.

49. Challenge, as testimony: IMPEACH.

50. Air issues org.: EPA.

51. "I knew it __ you": WAS.

53. "Oy vey!": AH ME.

54. Seal the deal: SIGN.

55. Hungry request: MORE. Next Tuesday is Chinese Spring Festival. I'm hungry for jiazi.

57. Fire: CAN.

58. Folding ladder feature: A FRAME.

60. H, to Kronos: ETA. Who's Kronos? I'm more familiar with Cronus spelling.

61. Word of accusation: LIAR.

63. Mil. rhyme for "Yahtzee": ROTC. New clue angle.

64. Lost steam: SLOWED.

69. Shape-fitting game: TETRIS.

72. "The __ Show": GONG. Here's Gong Li, the most famous Chinese actress.

73. Feed bag bits: OATS.

74. Deg. of distinction: PHD.

77. Just about: ALMOST.

78. Letters to a lender: IOU.

79. Part of CPA: Abbr.: CERT. Certified.

81. Modeling supply: GLUE.

82. Stray: ROAM.

83. Atl.-based network: CNN.

84. Shut out: BAN.

85. Embrace, as a custom: ESPOUSE.

88. Ancient Assyrian capital: NINEVEH. No idea. Wikipedia says it "was the largest city in the world for approximately fifty years until the year 612 BC. Today, it is a common name for the half of Mosul that lies on the eastern bank of the Tigris."

93. First Black person to host a successful TV variety show: FLIP WILSON.

96. Whole lot: TON.

101. Record speeds, for short: RPMS.

103. "__ Smile": Hall & Oates hit: SARA.

107. Park way: PATH.

108. Scott of "Hawaii Five-0": CAAN.

109. "Oh": I SEE.

110. Statehouse official: Abbr.: LT GOV.

111. At Notre Dame, say: IN PARIS. Notre Dame de Paris.

117. Saw-toothed: SERRATE.

118. Strand at a chalet, say: ICE IN.

119. More frivolous: SILLIER.

120. Like a best friend: CLOSEST.

121. One of the Allman Brothers: GREGG. He was married to Cher for sometime.

122. Lots: PLENTY.

Down: 

1. Boast in a 1987 Michael Jackson hit: I'M BAD.

2. "Chestnuts roasting ..." co-writer: TORME.

3. Exam no-nos: CRIBS.

4. Tony winner who portrayed TV's Barney Miller: HAL LINDEN.

5. Vogue alternative: ELLE.

6. __ gratias: DEO.

7. Use to conceal, as a bed: HIDE UNDER.

8. Added conditions: ANDS.

9. Chicken, in a Cantonese dish: GAI. Moo goo gai pan.

10. Wilson of Heart: ANN.

11. Saskatchewan capital: REGINA.

12. What a chair does: PRESIDES. Chairperson.

13. Spoken sounds: SONANTS. Learning moment for me.

14. "Delish!": YUM. Yummers on our blog.

15. Simple fastener: CLASP.

16. "__ mañana": HASTA.

17. Car that didn't go far: EDSEL.

18. Percolates: SEEPS.

20. Precise location: SPOT.

24. Moving: ASTIR.

29. Pres. or CEO: LDR. Leader.

32. Fed. anti-discrimination org.: EEOC.

33. __ Palace: castle on the Portuguese Riviera: PENA. Another learning moment. 

34. Word with white or cream: EGG.

35. "America's __ Talent": GOT.

37. Legal gp.: ABA.

39. Ready: RIPE.

40. One way to crack: WISE.

41. "You found the right person": I'M IT.

42. Patti Tavatanakit was its Rookie of the Year for 2021: Abbr.: LPGA. She's a Thai.

43. Jazz pianist __ Jamal: AHMAD.

45. Quarterback Rodgers: AARON. Packers.

46. Soften: THAW.

47. One-named body-image advocate: EMME.

48. Sesame __: SEED.

51. Bulb measure: WATT.

52. Nightly news figure: ANCHOR.

56. Where it all started: ORIGIN.

57. One side of an issue: CON. And PRO.

58. Mgr.'s second-in-command: ASST.

59. Wintry strains: FLUS.

61. California's San __ Obispo: LUIS.

62. Part of MIT: Abbr.: INST.

63. Fix: RIG.

65. "The most striking figure in Starkfield," in a Wharton classic: FROME. Ethan Frome.

66. Twelve, half the time: NOON.

67. African antelope: GNU.

68. Polished off: EATEN.

69. Alpine lake: TARN.

70. Weena's race, in a Wells classic: ELOI. "The Time Machine". Morlocks eat them.

71. IRS agent: T MAN.

74. Bit of talk show self-promotion: PLUG.

75. One may fall over a crowd: HUSH.

76. Something specific, informally: DEET. Detail.

79. Heels: CADS.

80. Showing support for: ENDORSING.

81. Take a limo, say: GO IN STYLE.

83. Special occasion service: CHINA SET. Carmen's special Spring Festival flowers. I don't know the name of the flowers in that big red Fortune vase, Carmen said they were very pricey.

84. Sofia's home: Abbr.: BULG. Bulgaria. They produce the best roses.

86. Some NCOs: SGTS.

87. Arafat's gp., once: PLO.

89. Group for ex-GIs: VFW.

90. Brings forth: ELICITS.

91. Recycling receptacle: BIN.

92. How deals are usually sealed: IN PEN.

94. Kissing at the bar, briefly: PDA. Public Display of Affection.

95. Hit the jackpot: WIN BIG.

97. Protestant denom.: EPISC.

98. Group of experts: PANEL.

99. Geek Squad member, for short: IT PRO.

100. Burns a little: CHARS.

102. Parts of gigs: MEGS.

104. Word from a coach: AGAIN.

105. Where to find words for words: ROGET.

106. Label giant: AVERY. By the way, where do you get your return address labels?

109. "Gotcha, man": I DIG.

110. Loaf: LOLL.

112. Pop's Carly __ Jepsen: RAE.  "Call Me Maybe" .

114. Text-scanning tech.: OCR.

115. Called before: NEE.

116. Limo passenger: VIP.

Boomer's radiation went well last week. He did scare me on Monday when he had a fall inside the radiation room. His left knee sometimes buckles, even with the walker. Thankfully no more accidents after that. He handled the extreme cold and long walks like the old Boomer!

We start more rounds of VA hospital visits on Feb 7, not daily, just two to three times a week for his PT, OT, chemo (will know more soon), MRI and other scans, neurosurgeon follow-up, spinal cord injury follow-up, diabetes visit, etc.

C.C.

Wednesday, December 15 Matt Skoczen

Theme: Mountain Range.  Each theme entry contains the name of a mountain range, and in each case it begins and ends with the first and last letters that name - hence the use of "range" in the unifier clue.  Let's start there.

37 A. What each set of circled letters spells ... and depicts: MOUNTAIN RANGE.  Self explanatory.  But could be baffling if you didn't get the circles.

17A . Enforcement arm of the fed. courts: U.S. MARSHALS.  It is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the Attorney General, but serves as the enforcement arm of the United States federal courts to ensure the effective operation of the judiciary and integrity of the Constitution.

The URALS are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the river Ural and northwestern Kazakhstan. The mountain range forms part of the conventional boundary between the regions of Europe and Asia.

24 A. Streaming service whose logo ends with a math symbol: APPLE TV PLUS.  A streaming device for Apple devices, smart TVs and more.  It features new, original programming every month.

The ALPS are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately 1,200 km across eight Alpine countries: France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.

48 A. "What I Like About You" co-star: AMANDA BYNES. [b. 1986]   is an American actress. She is best known for her work in television and film throughout the 1990s and 2000s. 

The ANDES, running along South America's western side, is among the world's longest mountain ranges. Its varied terrain encompasses glaciers, volcanoes, grassland, desert, lakes and forest. The mountains shelter pre-Columbian archaeological sites and wildlife including chinchillas and condors. From Venezuela in the north, the range passes through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

58 A. Family CBS series set on a self-named mountain: THE WALTONS. The life of a Depression-era family in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains is the subject of this wholesome series. The show is seen from the point of view of eldest son John Boy, who eventually goes to college, serves in World War II and becomes a novelist.

The TETONS are located in Wyoming, and are a sub-range of the Rockies.  I once read a quip that only a French man would look at these peaks and be reminded of his mistress's bosom.

Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here to lead this expedition.  No Himalayas, so we won't need a Sherpa guide.  Let's get our climbing boots on a start the ascent.

Across:

1. "Sleepy Hollow" actress Christina: RICCI. [b 1980] is an American actress. She is known for playing unconventional characters with a dark edge.

6. Scenic overlook offering: VIEW.  As of, free, those grand Tetons.

10. Tools with teeth: SAWS.  Pliers have jaws.

14. Broadcast warning sign: ON AIR. Admonition to avoid making vagrant sounds.

15. Included in the email loop, briefly: CCED.  indicating those who are also sent a copy.

16. See 19-Across: CLEF.  I've been playing since 1960, and still want to spell this word with 2 f's.

19. With 16-Across, staff symbol for viola music: ALTO.  Presumably, this abomination exists to avoid the use of ledger lines.  In reality, there is no rational excuse for it. /rant

20. Oopsy on the keys: TYPO.  I love the German word for this: Fingerfehler.

21. Feel out of sorts: AIL. 

22. Somali-born supermodel: IMAN.  Iman Abdulmajid [b 1955] is a Somali-American fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. A muse of the designers Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and Yves Saint Laurent, she is also noted for her philanthropic work. She is the widow of English rock musician David Bowie, whom she married in 1992.

23. 67.5 deg.: ENE.  The direction East-northeast.

28. Curtain material: SCRIM.  A woven material, either finely woven lightweight fabric widely used in theatre, or a heavy, coarse woven material used for reinforcement in both building and canvasmaking.

30. Vegas opening?: VEE.  A spelt-out letter.  Meh!

31. "How We Do (Party)" singer Rita: ORA. [b 1990] About whom I know nothing.

 

 32. German suffix with Konzert: MEISTER.  Auf Englisch, the concertmaster is the leader of the first violin section in an orchestra and the instrument-playing leader of the orchestra. After the conductor, the concertmaster is the second-most significant leader in an orchestra, symphonic band or other musical ensemble. 

36. Technical sch.: INSTitute.

40. Works with hide: TANS.

41. "This tastes awful!": I HATE IT.

42. CPR provider: EMT. Emergency Medical Technician.

43. Darth, as a youth: ANI.  Anakin Skywalker.

44. Green stuff: DOUGH.  Money

53. In favor of: PRO.  As opposed to Anti

54. Sciences partner: ARTS.

55. "I do not see why I should __ turn back": Frost: E'ER.  Ever, metrically force-fit.

“I do not see why I should e’er turn back, 

Or those should not set forth upon my track 

To overtake me, who should miss me here 

And long to know if still I held them dear. 

They would not find me changed from him they knew — Only more sure of all I thought was true.”

56. Where many a stuck thing sticks: CRAW. To be so offensive or disagreeable that one cannot swallow it. This expression is the modern version of stick in one's gizzard, gullet, or crop, all referring to portions of an animal's digestive system.

57. Paris gal pal: AMIE. 

61. Prejudice: BIAS.  pre-existimng attitude pro or anti some person or thing.

62. Pole at sea: MAST.  Support for the ship's riggings.

63. Undercut: ERODE.  A gradual wearing away, as by wind or water.  Undercut does not strike me as a good fit.

64. Is too busy, say: CANT.  Is unable or unwilling.

65. Texter's disclaimer, briefly: IMHO.  In My Humble Opinion.

66. Change: ALTER. Typically in a small but significant way.

Down:

1. Google Maps offerings: ROUTES.  To get you from point A to point B

2. On the same page: IN SYNC.  Synchronized.

3. RV park vehicle: CAMPER.  A large motor vehicle with facilities for sleeping and cooking while camping.

4. Vatican farewell: CIAO.  Hello or good bye in Italian.

5. Like some bargain bin mdse.: IRR.  Irregular - having some small flaw.

6. Blocker in a TV: V-CHIP.  A computer chip installed in a television receiver that can be programmed by the user to block or scramble material containing a special code in its signal indicating that it is deemed violent or sexually explicit.

7. "Show your cards": I CALL.   To call is to match a bet or match a raise. A betting round ends when all active players have bet an equal amount or everyone folds to a player's bet or raise. If no opponents call a player's bet or raise, the player wins the pot.

8. Sushi bar fare: EEL.  

9. Part of wpm: Abbr.: WDS.  Words per minute.

10. Rogue: SCAMP.   Someone mischievous in an amusing way.  Equivalent?  I have my doubts.

11. The whole time: ALL ALONG.  

12. Professional who breast-feeds another's child: WET NURSE.

13. NorCal airport: SFO.  The call letters for San Francisco International Airport.

18. Syrup source: SAP.  From maple trees.

22. "__ got it!": IVE.  Do you have it?

24. "You said it!": AMEN.  Statement of affirmation.

25. The Oscars, say: EVENT. A planned public or social occasion.

26. __ Haute: TERRE.  A city in and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, only 5 miles east of the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943.

27. Grabbed a chair: SAT.

29. Don of talk radio: IMUS.  John Donald Imus Jr., [b 1940] also known simply as Imus, was an American radio personality, television show host, recording artist, and author. His radio show Imus in the Morning was aired on various stations and digital platforms nationwide until 2018.

33. Singer Turner's memoir: I TINA.  Written in 1986

34. Indian "master": SAHIB. A polite title or form of address for a man.

35. Barcelona aunt: TIA.  Spanish

36. Really enjoying: INTO.  

37. ABBA musical: MAMMA MIA. A story built around a collection of their songs.

 

 38. Quebecer's neighbor: ONTARIAN. All Canadians, eh.

39. Helps: AIDS.  Assists

40. __ cozy: TEA.  A thick or padded cover placed over a teapot to keep the tea hot.

43. Common online interruptions: ADS.  Short for annoyances.

45. Yank from the soil: UPROOT.  Violent

46. "Thank U, Next" singer Ariana: GRANDE.  Ariana Grande-Butera [b 1993] is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Her music, much of which is based on personal experiences, has been the subject of widespread media attention, while her four-octave vocal range has received critical acclaim.

 

 47. Doctor Doogie: HOWSER.    An American medical drama that ran for four seasons on ABC from September 19, 1989, to March 24, 1993, totaling 97 episodes. The show stars Neil Patrick Harris in the title role as a teenage physician who balances the challenge of practicing medicine with the everyday problems of teenage life.

49. Desert trial: N-TEST.  Nuclear bomb explosion carried out in a remote location.

50. "Oy!": YEESH. A non-word, and poor fill.

51. Not familiar with: NEW TO.

52. Big Band __: ERA.  A period spanning roughly the mid 3930's to mid 40's, when poplar music was dominated by the big bands of the day.

 

 56. Lower left PC key: CTRL.   A modifier key which, when pressed in conjunction with another key, performs a special operation 

57. It can replace "pie" in an idiom: ABC.  It's just that easy.

58. "Enough!" in texts: TMI.  Too Much Information.

59. Bad actor: HAM.  One who over emotes.

60. Grassy expanse: LEA.  

We have reached the apex - if not necessarily the day - then, at least this puzzle.  As in any good MOUNTAIN RANGE, there were high points and low points. Hope you found the climb exhilarating.

Cool regards!

JzB

Tuesday, July 13, 2021 Matt Skoczen

Musical Cities:

16-Across. 1994 Collin Raye song (AR): LITTLE ROCK.

65-Across. 1959 Wilbert Harrison song (MO): KANSAS CITY.

10-Down. 1969 Glen Campbell song (TX): GALVESTON.  I went to Galveston.  Once.  For a fascinating look at the city, its the devastating 1900 hurricane, and the early politics of the Nation's Weather Bureau, read Erik Larson's book, Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History.

32-Down. 1982 Billy Joel song (PA): ALLENTOWN.

There is more music as we take our journey into this Tuesday puzzle.

Across:

1. They're what really happened: FACTS.

6. Garfield, e.g.: CAT.  Garfield the Cat is a comic strip, created by Jim Davis (b. July 28, 1945) that has been published since the late 1970s.  

9. Eye wolfishly: OGLE.

13. Nunavut native: INUIT.  Hi, CanadianEh!  Nuavat is a sparsely populated territory of northern Canada.  It forms much of the Canadian arctic archipelago.

14. Kid's comeback: AM SO!

15. Sit tight: WAIT.

18. Sommer of "The Prize": ELKE.  Elke Sommer (b. Nov. 5, 1940), is a German actress.  The Prize was a 1963 movie that also starred Paul Newman (Jan. 26, 1925 ~ Sept. 26, 2008).

19. Pianist Gilels: EMIL.  Emil Grigoryevich Gilels (Oct. 19, 1916 ~ Oct. 14, 1985) was a Ukranian pianist.

20. __ Army: golfer Palmer's fans: ARNIES.

22. Gall: VEX.

23. For all ages, filmwise: RATED G.

25. Most trifling: MINUTEST.

27. Spicy dip for chips: SALSA.  Yummers!

29. Pulpit talks: Abbr.: SERS.  As in Sermons.

30. Cry of illumination: AHA!

33. Wee: TEENY.

35. Songwriter Redding: OTIS.  Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (Sept. 9, 1941 ~ Dec. 10, 1967) was tragically killed in a plane crash at just age 26.

38. Throb: PULSATE.

40. Sunny-side-up feature: EGG YOLK.

43. Accessory put through loops: BELT.

44. Historic Jordanian city: PETRA.  I have yet to visit this beautiful city.

46. Opposing vote: NAY.

47. Key of Vivaldi's "Spring Concerto": Abbr.: E MAJ.  As in E Major.  Not a city, but still some beautiful music.

50. Mazda MX-5, familiarly: MIATA.

52. "The Sound of Music" family name: VON TRAPP.

55. Wild clashes: MELEES.

59. Pick, to a QB: INT.  Interception in football.

60. Stage lighting hardware: C CLAMP.

62. Smithsonian, e.g.: Abbr.: INST.  The Smithsonian is an Institution with many museums on the Washington Mall.

63. MGM mascot: LION.

67. Premier League soccer anchor Rebecca: LOWE.  Rebecca Lowe (b. Nov. 11, 1980) is a British sportscaster.  Rather obscure to those who don't follow soccer, I would presume.

68. French articles: UNEs.  Today's French lesson

69. Scary kind of wave: TIDAL.  Terrifying!

70. Gunn of "Breaking Bad": ANNA.

71. Old televangelist org.: PTL.  As in Praise The Lord.  A program hosted by Jim (b. Jan. 2, 1940) and Tammy Faye Bakker (Mar. 7, 1942 ~ July 20, 2007).

72. Behind the times: PASSÉ.

Down:

1. Taxpayer, e.g.: FILER.

2. Jungian concept: ANIMA.  Anima explained.

3. Make the grade: CUT IT.

4. Library names: TITLES.

5. Cards' cap letters: STL.  The Saint Louis Cardinals.

6. "Don't mess with me, bro!": C'MON MAN.

7. Computer acronym: ASCII.  An abbreviation for American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

8. Arcade coins: TOKENS.

9. Be indebted to: OWE.

11. Enjoys: LIKES.

12. Digital book format: E-TEXT.

14. Part of ETA: Abbr.: ARR.  Estimated Time of Arrival.

17. Aerie hatchling: EAGLET.

21. Curt legal advice: SUE.

24. Almanac info: DATA.

26. "Iliad" setting: TROY.  Everything you wanted to know about the ancient poem Iliad, but didn't know to ask.

28. Ooze: SEEP.

30. PD alert: APB.  Police Departments may issue an All Points Bulletin.

31. Color gradation: HUE.

34. Himalayan legend: YETI.

36. Waterfront org.: ILA.  As in the International Longshoremen Association.

37. Wild blue yonder: SKY.

39. Monthly acct. summary: STMT.  Think of your monthly bank Statement.

41. Family nickname: GRAMPA.  Mine were called Grandpa and Gramp.

42. Flight board info: GATE.  I will be going through a boarding gate tomorrow.

45. Select, as a jury: EMPANEL.

48. Ongoing story line: ARC.

49. Prepare for changing a flat tire: JACK UP.

51. Keys on a piano?: ALICIA.  Clever clue.

52. Luxurious residence: VILLA.  A trip to Sicily is not complete unless you visit the Villa Romana del Casale.   It is was ancient Roman villa that has some of the most beautiful, intact mosaics that I have ever seen.

53. Gibson garnish: ONION.

54. Garden growth: PLANT.

56. Authors Blyton and Bagnold: ENIDs.  I am not familiar with Enid Blyton (Aug. 11, 1897 ~ Nov. 28, 1968), but Edna Bagnold (Oct. 27, 1889 ~ Mar. 31, 1981) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.  Both were British authors.

57. These, to Tomás: ESTAS.  Today's Spanish lesson.  Hi, Lucina!

58. Hairdresser's concern: STYLE.

61. Ed.'s backlog: MSS.  As in Manuscripts.

64. PBS funder: NEA.  As in the National Endowment for the Arts.

66. Longtime NASCAR sponsor: STP.  Short for Scientifically Treated Petroleum.

Here's the Grid

חתולה

Sunday June 13, 2021 Matt Skoczen

Theme: "Get Wise" - Y is added to the end of one word in each common phrase.

23. Irish region named for a literary nobleman?: COUNTY DRACULA. Count Dracula.

31. Commiseration at a cookout?: BARBECUE PITY. Barbecue pit.

51. Sham indignation?: IMITATION FURY. Imitation fur.

67. Excited cry from a gemologist?: AY THERE'S THE RUBY. Ay there's the rub.

85. Dilemma presented by a suspicious peace offering?: TRICK OR TREATY. Trick or treat.

104. Young farm animals' taxi company?: CALVES' LIVERY. Calves' liver.

116. Cues from the Miracles' lead singer?: SMOKEY SIGNALS. Smoke signals. Smokey Robinson.

We've had a few "Why Not" puzzles where Y's are removed. I don't recall Y additions on Sundays. Fun phrases.

Shouldn't it be CALF'S LIVER though? Boomer used to make beef liver with onions. The smell!

Across:

1. Jelly Roll Morton genre: RAGTIME. I don't know Jelly Roll Morton, who was jazz's first arranger, according to Wiki.

 

8. Benjamin: C SPOT.

13. Kind of manner: BEDSIDE.

20. Repertoire: ARSENAL.

21. Riveting WWII icon: ROSIE.  Rosie the Riveter. Read this fascinating story about the real life model.

22. Volatile solvent: ACETONE.

25. Vehicle in a pit: RACE CAR.

26. Works with purls: KNITS. Hi there, Madame Defarge!

27. Easy comparison: ABC.

28. Heartache: SORROW.

30. "Star Wars" antagonist: SITH.

35. Inquire: ASK.

38. Advance with determination: SOLDIER ON.

40. "The Purloined Letter" author: POE.

41. Cream additive: ALOE.

42. __-jongg: MAH. Spelled as Majiang in China. When I lived in Guangzhou, my neighbors often played Majiang until earlier mornings. Noisy.

45. Normandy city: CAEN. Have not seen this entry for a year. 

46. Bro, for one: SIB.

48. Spent: ALL IN.

49. Bouquets: AROMAS.

56. San Juan __: California mission city: CAPISTRANO. Another unknown to me. It's in Orange County.

59. Athlete-turned-sportscaster Rashad: AHMAD. Ahmad Rashād was a Viking.

60. "Weeds" law org.: DEA.

61. Word with rule or show: SLIDE.

62. Wears down: ERODES.

65. USG successor: RBH. OK, Rutherford Birchard Hayes. Ulysses S. Grant.

66. "It's __ a while": BEEN.

71. Short rules?: REGS. Regulations.

74. Female lobster: HEN.

75. Wells' island doctor: MOREAU.  "The Island of Dr. Moreau"

76. Degrade: ABASE.

80. Junior Olympic Games org.: AAU. The Amateur Athletic Union. We also have 17. Games org.: IOC.

81. __ Tranquility: SEA OF.

83. Feature of much commercial maple syrup: ADDED SUGAR. Great fill.

89. "Yeah, right!": OH SURE.

90. Ho-hum feeling: ENNUI.

91. India is home to a plurality of its employees: IBM. No surprise. So many IT talents there, Vidwan!

92. __ Victoria: LAKE.

94. Remote needs: AAS.

95. "Do-Re-Mi" critter: DEER.

96. Three Kingdoms Chinese state: WEI. Luckily the crossings are fair. I always keep Jayce's comment in mind. He likes to solve crosswords, not cross names.

99. Trading post visitors: BARTERERS.

103. Nutrition fig.: RDA.

106. Radio switch: AM FM.

110. Middle Jackson sister: LA TOYA. Janet on the right.

111. Uzbekistan, once: Abbr.: SSR.

112. Farm song letters: E I E I O.

113. Coup member?: SILENT P. The last letter of "Coup".

121. Loom power source: TREADLE. My grandma used to have a loom.

122. White-plumed heron: EGRET.

123. Hot air: PRATTLE.

124. Gave the okay: SAID YES.

125. Framing supports: STUDS.

126. Night flights: RED EYES.

Down:

1. Spaces for spices: RACKS.

2. Rice-__: A-RONI.

3. Astronaut's apparel: G SUIT.

4. 5, in 2.5: TENTHS.

5. QB's concerns: INTS. Interceptions.

6. 5, in 5/8, say: MAY. Chinese calendar adds a leap month every 3 years. Back in 1971, we had two Mays. I was born on May 8 in the second May.

8. Buster of old Hollywood: CRABBE.

9. Game with strikers: SOCCER.

10. Nittany Lions' sch.: PSU.

11. Jed Clampett's find: OIL.

12. Needle: TEASE. See here to calculate your Chinese age. Be warned, you'll be one or two years older!  This also happens in Korea, babies are one-year old when they're born.

13. Hispanic city area: BARRIO.

14. Whist relative: ECARTE. Is it still a popular game?

15. Shill: DECOY.

16. Booyah or bouillabaisse: STEW. Unfamiliar with the stew Booyah.

18. CSI stuff: DNA.

19. Poetic adverb: EER.

24. __ to go: eager, colloquially: RARIN'.

29. On the facing pg.: OPP.

31. Really good time: BLAST.

32. Block ending: ADE. Blockade.

33. Mozart's "__ fan tutte": COSI.

34. Textbook segment: UNIT.

35. Refer (to): ALLUDE.

36. Nighttime shindig: SOIREE.

37. Ugandan neighbor: KENYAN.

39. "The Plough and the Stars" playwright Sean: O'CASEY.

41. TV alien: ALF.

42. Apple offerings: MACS.

43. Depleted sea: ARAL.

44. Southwestern native: HOPI.

47. Song cry heard here, there and everywhere?: BAA. Old MacDonald Had a Farm.

48. Furthermore: AND.

50. Golden touch king: MIDAS.

51. "You __ out?": IN OR.

52. Internet link: MODEM. Sigh. Does not look like CenturyLink will bring fiber to our area soon. Our modem is just too slow to handle our new Blogger format.

53. Sequence of online posts: THREAD.

54. Saturate: IMBRUE. New word to me. I only know IMBUE.

55. Nicole Kidman's island birthplace: OAHU. Gimme! Bruno Mars was born in Honolulu, by the way.

57. Try again: RE-HEAR. Try in court.

58. Playground crack?: ARE NOT.

63. That, to Tito: ESO.

64. Classic Fender, for short: STRAT.

66. One way to get around town: BY BUS.

68. Vincent van Gogh's brother: THEO. Now people just text "u ok?"

69. Actress Lamarr: HEDY.

70. Harsh critic: BASHER.

71. Very violent, perhaps: RATED R.

72. Made: EARNED.

73. Mali neighbor: GUINEA.

77. Río contents: AGUA.

78. Poet Teasdale: SARA. First one to win Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

79. Cockney toast opener: 'ERES.

81. __ lodge: SKI.

82. "Good" day occurring once a yr.: FRI.

84. "Okey-__!": DOKEY.

86. Snake: CUR.

87. Declines: EBBS.

88. Human rights lawyer Clooney: AMAL. Outshines George Clooney.

92. Skeptical: LEERY.

93. BOS posting: ARR.

96. Rooster feature: WATTLE.

97. Runs off to wed: ELOPES.

98. Boston __: IVY. Boston ivy here, right?

100. Wagered: RISKED.

101. Den furnishings: TV SETS.

102. Jeanne d'Arc, par exemple: SAINTE. Also 108. Dijon daughter: FILLE.

104. Reese's output: CANDY.

105. Relieves: EASES.

107. Rich, as tomato sauce: MEATY. So happy to learn from Moe that there's "Super Firm Tofu". I wonder why House Foods does not make Super Firm. They only go "Extra Firm".

109. Exodus leader: MOSES.

110. It's usually played by a star: LEAD.

112. "Yikes!": EGAD.

113. Mark and Luke: Abbr.: STS. Probably should go the road angle due to SAINTE.

114. "Deathtrap" playwright Levin: IRA.

115. Island garland: LEI.

117. Co. heads: MGT.

118. Okla. campus with a Prayer Tower: ORU.

119. 6-Down is in it: Abbr.: SPR.

120. Hot state: IRE.

C.C.